Chief Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina is a highly respected jurist who is widely praised by lawyers and fellow judges alike for his intellect, fairness, and judicial temperament.

Chief Judge Conrad has been nominated to the Fourth Circuit, which hears appeals from the federal district courts of North Carolina, Maryland, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Chief Judge Conrad is known for his intelligence, preparation, courtesy towards attorneys and litigants, facility in conducting courtroom proceedings, and fairness in applying the law.

Chief Judge Conrad has a distinguished record as a government attorney, an attorney in private practice, and as a district court judge.

In 2005, Chief Judge Conrad was confirmed by unanimous consent to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, where he sits today. He became Chief Judge on June 3, 2006.

From 2004 to 2005, and also from 1983 to 1989, Chief Judge Conrad engaged in the private practice of law. From 2004 to 2005, he was a partner at the prominent law firm of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw. Chief Judge Conrad practiced law in Charlottesville, Virginia, from 1983 to 1986. His private practice focused at different times on commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and corporate investigations.

From 1989 to 2004, Chief Judge Conrad worked in the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina. In 1999, Attorney General Janet Reno appointed him to be Chief of the Campaign Finance Task Force, which investigated irregularities in the 1996 presidential campaigns and a Senate campaign.

On October 23, 2001, Chief Judge Conrad was confirmed by unanimous consent to be the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, where he served until 2004. While the United States Attorney, Chief Judge Conrad chaired the Attorney Generals Subcommittee on Gun Crime and Violence.

Chief Judge Conrad has impeccable academic credentials and professional training.

He attended Clemson University, where he graduated in 1980 magna cum laude, and was honored as an academic All-American in basketball.

Chief Judge Conrad received his J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School in 1983.

Chief Judge Conrad has also contributed his time and energy to the community and to teaching others.

He has taught at the University of Virginias trial advocacy college and was an instructor at the Department of Justices National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

He has also been active in a variety of non-legal organizations, including his church, and he has also taken the time to coach boys and girls sports.